Booster campaign for old and vulnerable must begin soon

COVID updatesJuly14

A Covid-19 vaccine booster campaign should begin quickly for those aged over 80 and in certain vulnerable groups in the UK, an expert has said.

Professor Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia said people who had had the vaccine but did not respond well “need to be boosted soon”.

Within that category are: people with severe underlying disease; people with severe cancers that are on chemotherapy; people on high-dose steroids for autoimmune diseases; people who have had solid organ transplants; people who are actually morbidly obese. I would also add over-80s to that category.

Prof Hunter added that a wider booster campaign may not be needed as vaccines are still effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalisation and death - and said the UK will learn to live with around 45,000 coronavirus infections a day as the virus becomes endemic.

An Israeli woman receives a third booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in Tel Aviv CREDIT: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS

His comments come as experts from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) prepare to make a final decision about the booster campaign, with the NHS in England poised to commence third doses from September 6.

Health officials have plans in place to offer a third jab to 30 million over-50s and clinically vulnerable, but are yet to get a green light from Government advisers

Gareth Davies, breaking news editor

Any opinions, views and beliefs represented in this article are personal and belong solely to the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the opinion, views and beliefs of the organisation and employees of New Image™ International

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